◆ SpookStack

a) The Policy of tha Friends torurd Conseription in 1917. he Aporiean Priend,” published Soptenber 6, 1917 by the Sociaty “of Frianda, contained a copy of a latter uddrencad to the Honorable Howton’ ND. Taker, then Cocratary of Nasty In which a plan was wuppented to hundle the cases of Trianda sho arre coursfentiions objectors and could not purtd= cipate in any mili lary organisations. It ras stated thereins ‘ie therefore prasent a plan which offars x colution of our mutual probles. thare hug bean fortmod we national co tine known ag the American Trhonds Service Committee represanting e11 vriends in the Unlted Statos Lor tie purpose of Mndne Melds of service for nesbers of our body. ‘thie camdttiee waa formed saveral months ~ aro, without roeferenca to ihe Selective Servies Law, for the sole porvore of giving expression to the dashin of our aenbers (many of them above cengerintion ave) to render sorvica. Ga reepactfally propose that Wis Committee be authart by you to find service of naithonal importance far all Friends so dsairing who have obtained Tartifleates of Discharge unier Paragraph (1) of Geeti.on 20 of the Rules and Peyulations preveribad by tho President. This com-i tine pledces itself to find forms of service to be approved by tha President for uw. such men. It 4e noted that unter tro orders, one Legued by the war Nepartment and the other by the President of the United States in Lyl7, all draft ary recgistrents were to be inducted into the Yo and af they cune whihin the provistons of the lew applying to conscientious objectors, thay wre to be ane: "ad to some branch of tha service "that the President shall destenate as nomcombatant.e" In cor mmection with these tro ordern, Lustrctions rare iesued in August 1917, "To ALL Priends of neyistration Argat advising draft ee wenbers 6f thd gecke , ef felonds of thetr richts under the praft Lins . and of their duties as rembern of the Suclaty to stand (rn as censcientious objectors. In thie "Statenont of sriendst Frinciples" It wan statode "the ruling of the far Lepirtment is evidently based upon the assumption that ovr objection to nar is merely upainst participation in the active killing. On tho contrary, LU 4s ruch more find.nental \ than thate Itis an objection to the wnole systen as enbsdying a spirit chich we frel is @ denial of the way of Ifa us sented by desis Chriet. froa our paint of view thera can bo no division of 'rilitary service! inte tconbatant! und trnonsconbatant! tybibt da all coabutant., Even Hospltal rervice, so long an it js a corporate part of tha arnyy i cosbatant, cinee the only purpose of an ery is coubatant and cach part necessardly poartuxes of tha purpore of the whole. tha only non-corbutant service wich sa consistant with the principles of Frinnds is a uervice that ia not a corporate part of the i litany organtaation.!* . shis service wan planned a@ reconstmietiion work in Huropes Yuck work, and social onivica work in this country.